Winterberg is the main winter sports town in the Sauerland region of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the closest thing to a ski resort you will find in western Germany's low mountains. The lifts of the Winterberg Ski Area start right in town, and while the slopes are modest by Alpine standards — the highest point is around 840 metres — they are more than enough for a weekend trip from the Ruhr cities or Cologne.
In summer, the area reinvents itself with mountain biking, hiking on the Rothaarsteig trail, and the Winterberg Bobrun that operates year-round. The town itself is small and pleasant, with a handful of hotels and restaurants clustered around the centre.